Iowa Territory: Governors: 1838-1846
| Acting Governor of the Territory of Iowa | |
| 20 Jul 1838 - 15 Aug 1838 | William Bernard Conway [1] |
| Governor of the Territory of Iowa | |
| 15 Aug 1838 - 13 May 1841 | Robert Lucas [2] |
| 13 May 1841 - 18 Nov 1845 | John Chambers [3] |
| 18 Nov 1845 - 3 Dec 1846 | James Clarke [4][5] |
- Conway was commissioned as secretary of the Territory on 13 Jun 1838 and arrived in Burlington on 20 Jul 1838. He assumed the functions of the Governor, pending arrival of the appointed incumbent.
- Also in Ohio. Lucas was commissioned as governor on 7 Jul 1838 and took the oath of office in Ohio on 20 Jul 1838. He arrived in Burlington on 15 Aug 1838 and immediately assumed the executive authority.
- Chambers was commissioned as governor on 25 Mar 1841 and took the oath of office in Ohio on 5 May 1841. During temporary absence of Lucas, he arrived in Burlington on 12 May 1841 and assumed the executive authority on 13 May 1841. Lucas was not informed of the appointment of Chambers but acknowledged the transfer of office in his letter to the Secretary of State written on 18 Jun 1841.
- Clarke was commissioned as governor on 8 Nov 1845. Governor Chamber left Burlington on 9 Nov 1845 before the commission was delivered to Clarke leaving Secretary of the Territory Jesse Williams in charge of the executive department. The commission was received by Clarke in Burlington on 18 Nov 1845.
- Following the adoption and ratification of the Constitution of the State of Iowa, all civil and military officers of the territorial government were authorized by a provision of the Constitution to continue in office until superseded.